Manic Monday: what do I really value?

All of the natural routines and norms of my life fly out my car window in the summer. There seems to be a party every night. A quick trip here and there. Repacking before even having a chance to unpack. Can't figure out when to buy groceries because they are going bad while we hop and skip around town meeting friends, swimming, staying out as late as possible.

Going to the gym?

Paying bills?

Planning meals?

That all seems SO last season.

Do you remember that summer between 9th and 10th grade? When the boys turned into large, low voice creatures? It was only 3 short months and they morphed into another human all together.

Growth spurts, hormonal shifts, late night conversations that change your life. I think that is what summer is all about. A break away from all routine that can provide us with new insight into ourselves, into our desires and, for me, a fresh perspective on the life I am living.

I have created this life. Some of it intentionally and more than I care to admit, quite a bit of it I created passively. Letting things creep into my life that are not me. And they have taken over. I have beautiful shelves and storage spaces in my house full of things that don't matter to me. And yet there is no place left for those things I value. I find them in stacks and piles, underneath the recycling. (The recycling that never gets recycled.)

Tuesday, June 21st at 9:30, we will be hosting the PLAYshop that is based on Chapter 4 in Unwritten Travels: Your Travel Guide. It could not come at a better time for me. This summer, my values are shifting as I learn more who I really am. This season of life requires a different focus on some values that have been dormant for a while.

Won't you join us?

To register for the PlayShops email us at UnwrittenTravels@gmail.com. include your name, email, mailing address, phone number, and the session number(s) you want to attend. Each session has a 5 person minimum and a 12 person maximum.

Payment must be received in order to hold your place.

Click HERE to send your payment for your PlayShop. Click on the PLAY tab and you will click on the note that says "Reserve your spot."

Summer PLAYshops

Session Four – Why do you waffle and waver?

Why aren’t you "fulfilled?"

Why do you have conflicts with others?

Tuesday June 21, 2011

9:30-12 AM

Cost: $55 (includes themed snack and supplies)

Location: The Mooreland House, Brentwood TN

(directions will be sent with registration confirmation)

Life is full of tough choices.

When you become intentional about your values you can begin to live in harmony with who you are created to be. In this PlayShop you will identify the personal rules you live by and the rules you have for others. You will take a look at your personal compass and see how it is directing your life.

Session Five – Where did you come from?

Where do you want to go from here?

Tuesday August 23rd, 2011

9:30-12 AM

Cost: $55 (includes themed snack and supplies)

Location: The Mooreland House, Brentwood TN

(directions will be sent with registration confirmation)

Your past does not have to define you, but it is where your story begins. If you try to get through life with out an appreciation for the entire experience of your background, you will stop your own growth and pass on the same story to the generations that come after you. In this PlayShop you will determine how your past has prepared you for your present and decide what legacy you want to leave. Today is someone’s yesterday. Examine your beginning to see how it impacts your now. Redeem it for your future.

To register for the PlayShops email us at UnwrittenTravels@gmail.com. include your name, email, mailing address, phone number, and the session number(s) you want to attend. Each session has a 5 person minimum and a 12 person maximum.

Payment must be received in order to hold your place.

Click HERE to send your payment for your PlayShop. Click on the PLAY tab and you will click on the note that says "Reserve your spot."

We cannot wait to get started on all the fun with you.

Soul-Searching PLAYshop

Where is my purse? Where are my keys? Where is that water bottle I just had in my hand?

We have to search for what is urgent.
If we can’t find our keys, we can’t go to work; so we search.

We even search when we don’t really know we are doing it.

We listen to a report on the news about an issue.

We search our hearts and our minds instinctively to decide how we feel about that.

At Playshop session three, we searched.

We searched for ways that we could connect with our Spirits. We searched inside to begin to find out what we believe about spiritual things. It may not seem like an urgent thing. You can go about your day with out doing it. But whether we realize it or not, we are instinctively searching our souls throughout the day. Those decisions we make about the issues are tied to what we believe about God. The messages we are telling ourselves about ourselves are tied to what we believe about who we are created to be. Soul searching is urgent.

Those of us who have begun the search can promise you that.

And speaking of promises, you may just remember some that you have forgotten, and you may just be surprised to see how some of the promises of your heart are beginning to come true as you live in the truth you come to know in the Spirit.

We also painted.

We stopped our minds from racing with thoughts of our to-do lists even if only for a minute or two. We learned from each other. We left with new tools to use so that we can begin to listen to something other than the surface static that tends to fill our minds.

We had fun.

Who says searching has to be boring?

Remember going to slumber parties and having scavenger hunts. Playshop session three is like that. It’s like a slumber party for a few hours where you go on a scavenger hunt to find items that are inside you. Everybody wins, and everyone ends up with a prize.

PlayShop Schedule for 2011

Who Needs a PlayShop?

Women who want to give of themselves without losing who they were created to be.

Women who want to connect with other women in a way that is meaningful, life-giving and fun.

Women who answer, "I don't know,"

when asked, "What do you want? What do you need? What do you love?"

Don't let the word PLAY fool you! You won't believe how much you will learn about yourself while having a very good time. You might even practice some Laugh Therapy!

This year we are offering several PlayShops through the year in the

Nashville/Brentwood/Franklin areas.

Read through the descriptions below and find the sessions that speak to your challenges, your personality and your longings.

PlayShops are led by Jenny Black, MMFT and Jenny Watson, Life Coach.

Session One: Who Are You?

Tuesday, February 22nd

Choose from the 9-12 AM session or the 6-9 PM session

Cost: $55 (includes themed snack and supplies)

Location: Brentwood (directions will be sent at registration)

You know about your physical DNA, now discover the DNA of your desires, your heart, and your soul. Find out what you love and what makes you smile. Get the answer to the questions you’ve asked yourself for years. “So that’s why I do that!” "So that’s why I feel that way!” "So that’s why that bugs me so much!” This PlayShop will give you a place to connect with yourself so that you are able to be your true Self in your relationships, your work and your community.

Session Two – When can you fit it all in?

Tuesday, March 15th

Choose from the 9-12 AM session or the 6-9 PM session

Cost: $55 (includes themed snack and supplies)

Location: Brentwood (directions will be sent at registration)

Is your life so full that it is spilling all over the place? Discover how to show up in your own life. We will take a look at the 24/7 that you’ve been given. Learn to schedule what you love into your day. Who are the people that you want to make time for? Learn the difference between “Time Management” and “Choice Management.” In this PlayShop you will become aware of just how extraordinary even the ordinary can be!

Session Three – What do you believe?

Tuesday, April 12th

Choose from the 9-12 AM session or the 6-9 PM session

Cost: $55 (includes themed snack and supplies)

Location: Brentwood (directions will be sent at registration)

What do your beliefs actually mean to your life? The quiet places of your soul are easy to rush past in the busy-ness of life. Find out how and why to create sacred space so that your soul can thrive. In this PlayShop you will investigate what you really believe about the creator of your soul and identify the promises that are written on your heart.

Session Four – Why do you waffle and waver?

Why aren’t you "fulfilled?" Why do you have conflicts with others?

June (exact date TBA)

Choose from the 9-12 AM session or the 6-9 PM session

Cost: $55 (includes themed snack and supplies)

Location: TBA

Life is full of tough choices. When you become intentional about your vaules, you can begin to live in harmony with who you are created to be. In this PlayShop you will identify the personal rules you live by and the rules you have for others. You will take a look at your personal compass and see how it is directing your life.

Session Five – Where did you come from? Where do you want to go from here?

August (exact date TBA)

Choose either the 9-12 AM session or the 6-9 PM session

Cost: $55 (includes themed snack and supplies)

Location: TBA

Your past does not have to define you, but it is where your story begins. If you try to get through life with out an appreciation for the entire experience of your background, you will stop your own growth and pass on the same story to the generations that come after you. In this PlayShop you will determine how your past has prepared you for your present and decide what legacy you want to leave. Today is someone’s yesterday. Examine your beginning to see how it impacts your now. Redeem it for your future.

Session Six* – How can you connect what you now know about yourself with the demands of real life?

September (exact date TBA)

Choose either the 9-12 AM session or the 6-9 PM session

Cost: $55 (includes themed snack and supplies)

Location: TBA

*prerequisite for this class: must have already attended a PlayShop

You know what you want. You know what you need, but you can't figure out how to fit YOU in between meetings and laundry. In this PlayShop you will develop a vision for your life and learn how to get the support you need in order to make your vision a reality.

Session Seven: PlayShop Leadership Training

October (exact date TBA)

9am-3pm (there will be an afternoon lunch break)

Cost: $325 (includes snacks, supplies and complete curriculum)

Location: TBA

*prerequisite for this class: must have already attended a PlayShop

You think you would be great at leading a PlayShop. In this PlayShop Leadership Training, you will get all the information and the curriculum that you need to start leading PlayShops (and share the fun!) in your community.

To Register:

1. send an email to Unwrittentravels@gmail.com
2. include your name, address, phone number and which sessions you are attending.
3. visit UnwrittenTravels.com (click on PLAY to find the links) and make your payment online.
4. your place in our PlayShops will be reserved once payment has been received. (Limit 12 persons per session).
5. you will then receive confirmation of your PlayShop Session with all necessary information for your particular session.
   

our beloved books

"She knew my life through my books."
~Jeanine (PlayShop Girl)

The Assignment was to bring a book (or two or three) to the PlayShop that has impacted, changed or clarified your values.

Here's what we came up with:

Complete Idiots Guide to Organizing Your Life

The Dance of the Dissident Daughter

30 Days to Live

Tired of Trying to Measure Up

I Know This Much is True

What Happy People Know
(there is also What Happy Women Know)

American Dictionary of the English Language

Future Grace

Return of the Prodigal Son

When the Heart Waits

Eat, Pray, Love

The Little Prince

Addicted to Mediocrity

Laneburg (not yet available for purchase)

Committed

Other Favorites:

How to Talk so Your Kids Will Listen and Listen so Your Kids Will Talk
(looks like there is even a Teen Version)

Drama of the Gifted Child

The Bluest Eye

Traveling Mercies

Co-Dependent No More

The Dance of Anger

Families Where Grace is in Place

Tell us about a book that has inspired your life in the comment box.

10 Reasons

...why the Unwritten Travels Work(PLAY)shop will be the best $ you spend all year:

1. Six weeks of fun and inspiration for less than you'd pay for 1 hour of therapy.

2. It's scientifically proven that money can buy happiness!
(When you spend it on experiences that connect you with others)

3. Access to your very own Life Coach.

4. Finally getting an opportunity to spend time with the kind of people you wish you could spend more time with.

5. Free childcare for your kids while you are having fun with grown-ups
(and you won't even have to sweat).

6. You will be having so much fun that it will surprise you that you are learning so much about your amazing self.

7. You will receive one free session of counseling/life coaching to give to one of your friends.
(Hey, they don't have to know you got it free.)

8. You will realize you aren't the only one who doesn't have it all together, and just maybe that won't even be the goal.

9. There might be snacks. Enough said right there.

10. It is only possible to invest yourself into your life once you have invested in yourself!